Lionel Taurus shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Lionel, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Would I hire myself? Hell yes! Because I love challenges and I thrive on overcoming obstacles, this is what motivates me the most in design. I’m passionate about growth and pushing myself to new heights. However, I’m also not entirely sure what I want to be doing in the long run, which might be a concern. Still, if I can show that I’m willing to learn, adapt, and find my true direction, I think I can belong anywhere as long as it’s around design.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Lionel Taurus, a multidisciplinary designer with a diverse background in creative arts and technology. Currently, I work at Squarespace & Unfold, where I focus on building user-friendly websites with customizable templates. My goal is to help individuals, businesses, and artists create a professional online presence that’s easy to manage and visually appealing!
My journey in design is anything but traditional. I grew up in the Caribbean islands, where I developed a love for drawing. Inspired by my family, especially my sister who was in art school and also a designer later in life, I found myself curious about how things work, systems and processes and ended up developing a deep passion for design and software.
I eventually moved from the Caribbean to France to study Visual Communication in Chaumont, then continued my education in Graphic Design in Valence, and later in Interactive Media at Gobelins in Paris. My career has taken me through various creative environments: advertising, gaming, creative studios, and digital agencies, each helping me expand my skills and perspective.
What I love most about my work is constantly exploring new industry trends, emerging technologies, and design methodologies. My approach is to always say “yes” to new challenges, even if I don’t have experience because that’s how I learn, innovate, and become better.
Overall, I see design as a never-ending journey of discovery, and I’m excited to keep pushing myself and others to create, learn, and grow along the way.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Honestly, I never really asked myself this question before! but before I became a designer, I was incredibly passionate about math. It was actually my strongest subject in school, and I could have easily pursued a career in engineering or something like that. But over time, I found math becoming monotonous, and that’s when I started to dive into drawing and developing a deeper interest in design and art. That shift sparked my journey into the creative world.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
When I was still in school, I honestly thought about giving up, mainly because of grades, academic pressure, and the low success rate for most design school programs. But I never actually quit. I wasn’t the top student, but I was always willing to put in the work, push myself further, and learn as much as I could. I made a conscious effort to keep growing so I wouldn’t have to deal with imposter syndrome anymore.
It took me years to realize that I was actually good at what I was doing and to acknowledge my accomplishments!
Today, what I’m the proudest of is to have been reached by most of the biggest and most creative companies in the world and, to have the choice to be able to work for whoever I could dream of. This testament is more success than any paycheck or awards could buy me.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Integrity is fundamental to me. I would never try to undermine someone else or steal ideas to advance my own career (very common in design and product design industry!). Instead, I believe in lifting others up and collaborating rather than tearing them down. I also recognize that I need the support and challenge of others to push myself further. I see this as an essential part of my growth and development.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What false labels are you still carrying?
Some people think I’m a workaholic, but they don’t realize it took me years to develop the ability to work fast and efficiently. In reality, and to be honest, I only work from 9/10am to 4pm, and I’m home with my kid by 5 pm. I’ve learned to balance productivity with my personal life, and it’s still difficult for people to realize that!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.filsdegraphiste.fr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filsdegraphiste/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/filsdegraphiste/
- Twitter: https://x.com/filsdegraphiste
Image Credits
© Lionel Taurus, All Rights Reserved.
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